Utility Vehicle Permit

The city of Pinckneyville allows the use of permited utility vehicles and golf carts on our city streets and alleys by our citizens.  This not only helps to reduce our dependence on foreign oils but also allows our community a cleaner, quieter and less congested environment for our residents. 

In order to operate a golf cart or utility vehicle in the city limits, you must first fill out an application for a permit to operate.  Once you complete the application, it must be turned into the City Police Department along with proof of liability insurance, a signed waiver of liability(included with application), and a copy of your Illinois Drivers License.  Once your application has been approved, the police Chief will need to inspect your vehicle to be sure it complies with our city ordinance.  All of the rules and regulations are as follows: 

Requirements:

  • Proof of current liability insurance
  • Must be certified with the City and have a vehicle certified with the City by inspection by the Police Chief, or his designated representative
  • Must comply with the published "Rules Concerning Alternate Transportation for the City of Pinckneyville"
  • Must display City decal on the rear of the vehicle
  • Must be 21 years of age and posses a current, valid Illinois drivers license

Rules:

  • Must obey traffic laws of the State of Illinois and the City of Pinckneyville
  • Must be operated only on City streets that have a posted speed limit of 35 miles per hour or less, except where prohibited
  • May not be operated on Illinois Routes 13, 127, and 154 or any streets, highways, and roadways under the jurisdiction of the Illinois Department of Transportation ( Main Street, Water Street, Illinois Route 13, Illinois Route 127, and Illinois Route 154) or the Perry County Highway Department, except to cross at designated streets
  • A person may make a direct crossing at an intersection controlled by a traffic light or two-way stop sign across a highway under the jurisdiction of the state if the speed limit on the highway is 35 miles per hour or less at the place of the crossing
  • A person operating a utility vehicle upon any street, roadway, or highway within the corporate limits of the City must posses a valid drivers license issued in his or her name by the Secretary of State
  • A person who is operating or who is in actual physical control of a utility vehicle on a roadway while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is subject to Section 11-500 through 11-502 of the Illinois Compiled Statutes.
  • Utility vehicles shall not be operated on sidewalks or in City Parks other than parking areas.
  • All operators of a utility vehicle must adhere to Illinois child restraint laws.
  • Any operator or passenger of a utility vehicle must be in a sitting position and wearing a seatbelt while the vehicle is in moving motion

Permits

  1. No person shall operate a qualified utility vehicle without first obtaining a permit from the City Police Department.
  2. Permits shall be granted for a period of one year and renewed annually.
  3. The cost of the permit is Thirty-Five Dollars ( $35.00).
  4. Insurance coverage is to be verified by the Police Department and in effect when obtaining or renewing a permit.
  5. Every application for a permit shall be made on a form supplied by the City and shall contain the following information:
    • Name and address of applicant
    • Name of liability insurance carrier
    • Serial number, make, model, and description of utility vehicle
    • Waiver of liability signed by applicant releasing the City and agreeing to indemnify and hold the City harmless from any and all future claims resulting from the operation their utility vehicle on the City streets
    • Photocopy of applicable liability insurance coverage specifically for the vehicle to be operated pursuant to the permit
    • Photocopy of the operators current drivers license and
    • Such other information as the City may require
  6. No permit shall be granted unless the following conditions are met:
    • The vehicle must be inspected by the Chief of Police ( or his designee) to ensure that the vehicle is safe to operate on the City streets and is in compliance with this ordinance
    • A physically handicapped applicant must submit a certificate signed by a physician certifying that the applicant is able to safely operate a qualified utility vehicle on City streets
    • The applicant must provide evidence of insurance in compliance with the provisions of the Illinois Compiled Statutes regarding minimum liability insurance for passenger motor vehicles to be operated on the roads of the State of Illinois.
  7. The City may suspend or revoke a permit granted if found that the holder has violated any provision of this ordinance or there is evidence that permittee cannot safely operate a qualified utility vehicle on the designated roadways.

Vehicle Identification and Requirements

A) Any vehicle approved and permitted by the City of Pinckneyville shall be identifiable by the City issued sticker

B) Each utility vehicle must be equipped with: 

  • brakes
  • tires
  • stop lamps
  • reflex reflectors
  • rearview mirror
  • windshield
  • parking brake
  • steering wheel apparatus
  • headlight that emits a white light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the front and a tail lamp that emits a red light visible from at least 100 feet from the rear 

C) When operated on a designated roadway, a utility vehicle shall have it's head lamps lighted.  

Violations 

A) Any vehicle authorized for use on a public streets by the passage of this ordinance shall be subject to all local and state laws that GENERALLY apply to the respective Motor Vehicle Codes, and any violation of either code will cause the operator of said vehicle to be eligible for criminal prosecution according to the laws of that Code.

B) Any person who violates any provision of this ordinance shall be guilty of a petty misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of Seventy-Five Dollars ($75.00). Any second or subsequent offenses shall result in the revocation of the permit for a period of not less that three, nor more than five, years. To the extent that any violation of this ordinance also constitutes a violation of a criminal statute of the State of Illinois, then the violator shall also be subject to criminal prosecution.

Miscellaneous: In the event a court of competent jurisdiction declares any particular provision of this ordinance to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions of this ordinance shall be construed to be valid and enforceable. The invalidity of any part of this ordinance shall not affect any other part or parts thereof.

This page is a general outline of Ordinance 2009-05

To see the ordinance in full or for definitions of terms click here